AFCON 2025: Nigeria, Tunisia and others take center stage
The first day of group C of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations promises major lessons. Between a Nigeria expected to vividly show up against Tanzania and a Tunisia facing a Ugandan side in search of a renaissance, the group’s balance could be drawn from the start.
Philemon MBALE · Author profile ·
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Nigeria – Tanzania
The weight of history against the audacity of the outsider
Triple champion of Africa, Nigeria begins its continental campaign with a loader against Tanzania, Tuesday at the Sports Complex of Fès. On paper, the opposition seems unbalanced, but the recent history of the AFCON invites caution.
This will only be the second confrontation between the two selections in the final phase of the African Cup of Nations, according to Opta. The only previous one dates back to 1980, the year of the first Nigerian coronation, with a 3-1 victory for the Super Eagles. Since then, their continental trajectories have rarely converged, making this poster difficult to anticipate.
Nigeria are playing their 21st edition and advance with impressive regularity. Also according to Opta, the Super Eagles have reached the semi-finals in 15 of their last 18 appearances and have lost only one of their last 14 group stage matches in the competition. A consistency that reinforces their status as the natural favorite of the group.
On the other hand, Tanzania approaches this competition with an assumed outsider status. This is her fourth participation, but above all the first time she has held two consecutive qualifying matches. A notable progress, even if the Taifa Stars have never yet crossed the group stage. According to Opta, they have not won any of their nine matches in the finals so far.
The figures also highlight some offensive limits. Tanzania are part of the teams that scored less than one goal per match in qualifying, while relying heavily on Feisal Salum, the team’s top scorer and most active player during the elimination campaign. Against a Nigeria capable of brutally accelerating the pace, defensive strength and tactical discipline will be essential.
Tunisia – Uganda
A historical domination to be confirmed
In the other group C meeting, Tunisia finds Uganda with the goal of finally launching their competition on a good footing, after several disappointing entries in recent years.
This will be the third confrontation between the two nations in the final phase of the AFCON, according to Opta. The two previous ones turned to the advantage of the Carthage Eagles, in 1962 and then in 1978, with six goals scored and only one conceded. More broadly, the global record is clear, with Tunisia having won all of its confrontations against the Cranes.
Tunisia competes in its 22nd African Cup of Nations, an absolute record, and has a 17th consecutive participation. Yet, this longevity has only translated into a single consecration, in 2004, at home. Since then, according to Opta, the Tunisians have only reached the quarter-finals once, illustrating a persistent difficulty in reaching a milestone at major events.
Uganda, on the other hand, signs its return to the finals for the first time since 2019. Unfortunate finalist in 1978, they remain one of the historically lowest-performing selections in the competition. According to Opta, the Cranes have lost 70% of their games played in the AFCON, the highest defeat rate among teams that have played more than twenty games.
On the individual level, Tunisia can count on the efficiency of Mohamed Ali Ben Romdhane, whose every goal in the national team ended with a victory, while Uganda relies on the creativity of Allan Okello, one of the best passers for continental qualifications according to Opta.